The City Council of

Peachtree City last week recognized the large impact of

the Wings Over Dixie air show to the community by ruling

to contribute needed security expenses for the event.

The air show is scheduled

for Sept. 11-12 at Falcon Field, and is the only such

event in the metro Atlanta area this year, as Mayor Pro

Tempore Annie McMenamin pointed out, since Dobbins Air

Force Base in Cobb County will not have its annual show

in 1999.

According to a memo

discussed at last week's City Council meeting, police and

emergency medical services at the show are provided

mainly by Peachtree City off-duty employees working

directly for the air show, while fire service is provided

at no charge by Peachtree City volunteers.

Off-duty officers from

Fayetteville, Tyrone and the Fayette County Sheriff's

Department also are expected to work some of the time.

The Development Authority

of Peachtree City has agreed to contribute $2,500 toward

the expected $5,760 needed for all services, it was

learned at the City Council meeting. Also, the county

will donate Sheriff's Department employees' time and the

city of Fayetteville will donate some fire and police

service. A $500 contribution is being received from

Economic Development of Fayette County.

Mayor Bob Lenox said that

he likes the plan, although he was concerned that the

city could be setting a precedent by officially

supporting a nonprofit event. City attorney Rick Lindsey

responded that the city should stipulate any city funds

designated for this event as public safety funds, since

the air show is expected to have a large attendance

- possibly 10,000 or so, according to McMenamin.

The council voted 4-0 to

contribute up to $3,500 for the air show, with McMenamin

abstaining due to her connection to the Kiwanis, which is

heavily involved in the event.

Eric Snell, president of

the Planterra Ridge homeowners association, asked the

city to instruct the air show participants concerning low

fly-bys, which startled many of his neighborhood's

residents last year and may be in violation of Federal

Aviation Administration guidelines.